When a student applies for federal student aid, the answers to certain questions will
determine whether the student is considered dependent on their parent(s) or whether
the student is independent. A dependent student must report the student's parents’
income and assets as well as the student's own income and assets. An independent student
must report only the student's own income and assets (and those of the student’s spouse,
if married).

A student is classified as dependent or independent because federal student aid programs
are based on the idea that the student (and the student's parents or spouse, if applicable)
have the primary responsibility of paying for the student's post-secondary education.
Students who have access to parental support (dependent student) should not receive
need-based federal funds at the expense of a student who does not have such access
(independent student).

A student is considered independent if at least one of the following applies:

The student was born before January 1, 1994

The student is married

The student has children who receive more than half of their support from the student

The student has dependents (other than children or souse) who live with the student
and receive more than half of their support from the student

The student has legal dependents other than a spouse

At any time since the student turned age 13, both of the student's parents are deceased,
the student was in foster care, or the student was a ward of the court

The student is currently serving on active duty int he U.S. Armed Forces for purposes
other than training

The student is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces

The student is an emancipated minor as determined by a court in the student's state
of legal residence

The student is in legal guardianship as determined by a court in the student's state
of legal residence

At any time on or after July 1, 2016, the student's high school or school district
homeless liaison determined that the student was an unaccompanied youth who was homeless

At any time on or after July 1, 2016, the director of an emergency shelter or transitional
housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determined
that the student was an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or was self-supporting
and at risk of being homeless

At any time on or after July 1, 2016, the director of a runaway or homeless youth
basic center or transitional living program determined that the student was an unaccompanied
youth who was homeless or was self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.

(If a student cannot answer "yes" to one of the above questions, the student is dependent
and parental information must be reported.)